Defying the odds

You are beautiful, you are charming and regardless of the
daunting crowd staring at you, you move with an air of
effortlessness and effervescence. I watch as you breeze into the
room, with poise that indicated confidence and demanded respect.
How do you do it?

“Just relax and smile!” You tell me. Please! Easier said than
done.

In any case, I decided long ago to simply live vicariously
through you.

Countless times you've giving me a persistent, yet gentle push to
live without holding back, you tell me to expand my mental
perception on life. How is it that you never gave up on me?
“There will be lots of missed opportunities and regrets if you
don't move out of your comfort-zone now and live life in all it's
entirety.” You remind me.

You left for university, miles and miles away. With sadness and
regrets, came the realization that you won't always be here.

That first year you were away, was simply put, overwhelming. Yet,
I was driven to do things for myself. To tell you the truth, I
never thought i could do it. I left my social-anxiety
confinement; I traveled on my own, I went to college; I made new
friends; and i spoke out. All along, you cheered me on! How is it
that you saw the best that I can be?

In many ways, you taught me this: like the radiant warmth of the
sun after a really stormy day, it matters to have someone in our
lives that constantly reminds us of perseverance particularly
when we feel small or lost. Oh, let's be swift to cheer each
other up so that we can grow together! Occasionally, we tend to
forget that we are strong, let us remind one another that we are
fully-adequate.